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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f78cfe --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53920 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53920) diff --git a/old/53920-h.zip b/old/53920-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ea5f363..0000000 --- a/old/53920-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53920-h/53920-h.htm b/old/53920-h/53920-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 909f32d..0000000 --- a/old/53920-h/53920-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2369 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> -<head> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> -<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Kittyboy's Christmas, by Amy Ella Blanchard</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover-image.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -h1 -{ - text-align: center; - font-size: x-large; - font-weight: normal; - line-height: 1.6; -} - -.center -{ - text-align: center; -} - -.spaced -{ - line-height: 1.5; -} - -.space-above - -{ - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.small -{ - font-size: small; -} - -.ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } - -.border -{ - border: 1px solid; -} - -.pagebreak {page-break-after: always;} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.covernote { - visibility: visible; - display: block; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - h1.pg { font-size: 190%; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1; } - hr.full { width: 100%; - margin-top: 3em; - margin-bottom: 0em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - height: 4px; - border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ - border-style: solid; - border-color: #000000; - clear: both; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Kittyboy's Christmas, by Amy Ella Blanchard, -Illustrated by Ida Waugh</h1> -<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Kittyboy's Christmas</p> -<p>Author: Amy Ella Blanchard</p> -<p>Release Date: January 8, 2017 [eBook #53920]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KITTYBOY'S CHRISTMAS***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Chris Whitehead, Charlene Taylor,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/kittyboyschristm00blan"> - https://archive.org/details/kittyboyschristm00blan</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" src="images/cover-image.jpg" id="coverpage" width="500" height="715" alt="Kittyboy's Christmas" /> -<div class="transnote covernote"> -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The cover image was restored by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/image1.jpg" width="450" height="603" alt="A solemn-faced little midget, about six years old, clasping a battered doll, stood before them." /> -</div> - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 2em;"><i>A solemn-faced little midget, about six years old, clasping to her breast<br /> -a battered doll, stood before them</i>—Page 31]</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - - -<h1 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;">Kittyboy's Christmas</h1> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/image2.jpg" width="450" height="608" alt="Title page for Kittyboy's Christmas" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - - - - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;">Copyright by<br /> - -GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO.<br /> - -1898</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[ 7]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 3em;" src="images/image5.jpg" width="450" height="184" alt="Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - - - - -<h2 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2.5em;">CHAPTER I</h2> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Kittyboy</span> was lost. It was an evident -fact. He stood on the corner -of the alley which led into a wide street to -which he had been chased by an aggressive -dog, and with every hair bristling, -looked around for a friendly door, but they -were all shut closely; and the snow was -beginning to fall, in an uncertain way, just -a flake here and there, displaying exquisitely -perfect crystals on the stone steps -and the brick pavement, then melting away -very slowly.</p> - -<p>Kittyboy tucked his four small paws -neatly under him, and crouched in a corner,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -once in a while giving a plaintive little -"meow," which no one noticed, if any one -heard. Yet, after all, Kittyboy's losing of -himself was not such a dreadful thing, for -he was always being kicked aside as a -troublesome beast, even before his little -mistress, Annie Brady, was sent away to a -Home, being considered by her uncle's -family in the light of a nuisance, quite as -great as Kittyboy himself. Nevertheless, -in spite of his rather unpleasant experiences -in the world, Kittyboy was full of a -happy confidence in humanity scarcely to -be expected. So, presently seeing a figure -coming up the street, he rose from his -compact attitude and ran along by the -railing of an area, rubbing his sides against -the narrow bars, and finally followed the -figure up the broad steps; then, as the -latch-key was turned in the door, he saw -his opportunity, and slipped in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was rather late; eleven o'clock or -more, and getting colder every minute. -The house was very quiet, no one astir -anywhere; a light, however, was burning -in one room, where a warm fire blazed -in the open grate, the sight of which -so delighted Kittyboy that he began to -purr contentedly. The light, now turned -up, showed more distinctly what manner -of person it was whom Kittyboy had followed: -an elderly man, with keen, sharp -eyes; he was somewhat portly, was well -dressed, and brisk in his movements. -Kittyboy's little black form, snuggled in -one corner, where he sat blinking at the -fire, was not noticed by this other occupant -of the room, who, lighting a cigar, -sat down by a table, stretched out his -legs comfortably, and unfolded the evening -paper.</p> - -<p>Presently, the sharp sound of a coal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -dropping on the polished hearth disturbed -Kittyboy's nap, and he jumped up, with -visions of whips cracking over his head, -and gave a leap away from the fire. The -sharp noise also attracted the attention -of the reader, who looked over the top -of his newspaper to see four little furry -feet daintily stepping across the rug.</p> - -<p>"What are you doing here! Get out, -cat!" came an exclamation in so much -milder language than that to which Kittyboy -was accustomed, that he considered it -in the light of an overture, and springing -up on the arm of the chair, in which this -new acquaintance was sitting, he proceeded -to play with the newspaper, patting -the two sides, with ears very much -forward, and an alert look on the wise -little face, as if in momentary expectation -of seeing a mouse jump out from the -folds of the sheet.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<p>The very audacity of the performance -tickled the man's fancy. "You impudent -little beast," he said; "how did you get in -here, anyhow? Aha! I know. I believe I -saw you as I came up the steps. You -must have slipped in behind me. But this -will never do; you will have to get out -again. No cats allowed in my house."</p> - -<p>For answer, Kittyboy began to rub his -head against the arm nearest him, purring -softly.</p> - -<p>The man regarded him less severely. -"If I'm going to turn you out, I may as -well give you something to eat. You are -none too well fed, I see," he remarked; -and, rising, he took his way to another -room, where, after hunting around, he -found in the larder a pitcher of cream, set -away by the housekeeper for her master's -morning coffee. All unconscious of bringing -dismay to the worthy woman, Dr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -Brewster emptied the contents of the -pitcher in a saucer and set it down, watching -Kittyboy eagerly lap up this unexpected -treat.</p> - -<p>"Now you must go," said the doctor; -and Kittyboy followed confidently at his -heels. But the draught of icy wind which -greeted him as the front door was opened, -caused the little fellow to scamper back to -the library, where, before the open fire, he -again sat down and began complacently to -wash his face.</p> - -<p>Back into the room came Dr. Brewster, -laughing in spite of himself. "You -are a sly little rascal," he said; "come, -come," and he picked up the unresisting -little creature, which cuddled down comfortably -in his arms, as if it were beyond -the bounds of possibility that a second -attempt should be made to put him out, -and the good doctor actually began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -have compunctions. "I always vowed I'd -never have a cat in the house," he said, -under his breath; "am I to give in at -this late day? Well! you audacious little -wretch, I'll let you stay till morning. It's -too cold a night to turn any creature out of -doors," and Kittyboy's triumph was complete -when he was put down on the hearth-rug -and allowed to continue his ablutions, -while the doctor resumed his paper.</p> - -<p>But it was strange that the presence -of a little black cat could turn a sober -man's interest from foreign news and the -quotations of the stock market, and that -he should have found himself dwelling on -the memory of two little eager faces which -he had seen that day gazing into a window -decked out with Christmas toys, and, -furthermore, that twice he should have -read over an item which went as follows:</p> - -<p>"Every year, about Christmas time, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -number of letters find their way to the -Post Office; they are variously addressed -to Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, or St. Nicholas, -and are the outcome of childish faith. -One is forced to wonder how often they -must be followed by disappointment, since -there can appear no claimant for them."</p> - -<p>The doctor, we have said, read the -paragraph twice over, and then, lowering -his paper, sat looking thoughtfully into the -fire. After a while a smile broke over his -face, and he returned to his sheet. But -the smile did not leave his lips till he -extinguished the light and went to his -room, leaving the sleeping Kittyboy curled -up on the hearth-rug in a condition of -delicious warmth and comfort.</p> - -<p>When, the next morning, at the sight -of buckets and brooms brought in by -the housemaid, Kittyboy scampered out, it -was to find refuge in the dining-room, just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -as the doctor opened the door to go to his -breakfast. This time Kittyboy was not -driven out, for the cheery waitress said, -"It brings good luck, doctor, sorr, to have -a cat come to the house, especially a black -cat." And by the time the doctor had -finished, indulgently feeding Kittyboy with -bits from his own plate, and Kittyboy had -responded by such antics as kept the doctor -laughing, it was an understood thing -that the little cat was fairly adopted into -the family.</p> - -<p>The invasion of a common little street -cat into the bachelor's household quite -scandalized the good housekeeper, who -could not get it out of her head that Kittyboy -had in some way purloined the cream, -but, said the cheerful Maggie, "It's far too -quiet here to suit me, and the doctor actually -ate his breakfast this morning without -the paper at his elbow. I certainly am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -glad to see some sort of a young creature -about the house." The housekeeper gave -a sniff, but even she smiled furtively a -moment later at sight of Kittyboy wildly -chasing his tail.</p> - -<p>Buttoning himself up well in his overcoat, -the doctor, after breakfast, took his -way down town, and went straight to the -city Post Office. He did not stop as he -passed through the long corridor till he -reached the private office of the Postmaster -himself.</p> - -<p>"Hello, Brewster, what brings you -here so early?" questioned that worthy, -looking up from his desk. "Haven't any -complaints to make about Uncle Sam's -mail, have you? Don't be too hard on -us if things aren't just on time. There is -a great rush from now till after the holidays, -and you old bachelors are so -methodical that, if a letter is a minute<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -and a quarter late, you think the entire -Post Office system is tottering. Sit down."</p> - -<p>"No," replied the doctor. "I didn't -come to complain, Hardy, I came to see if -I could collect the mail for Santa Claus."</p> - -<p>Mr. Hardy put down his pen, and -stared at his visitor. "What are you -driving at, anyhow?" he asked. "Oh, I -see; some charity Christmas tree, or -something. How much will let me off, -doc?"</p> - -<p>The doctor smiled. "I'm not on that -errand at all. I simply want to know if it -is possible to have any letters, now lying -in this office, addressed to Santa Claus, -delivered to me?"</p> - -<p>Mr. Hardy looked thoughtful for a -moment. "Are there any such letters?" -he then asked.</p> - -<p>The doctor felt in his pocket for the -last evening's paper, which he had taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -the precaution to carry with him, and -silently pointed out the paragraph he had -read the night before.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hardy nodded understandingly. -"I don't see why you shouldn't have -them," he replied finally; "I'll get them for -you, doc, if it's possible," and, leaving the -office, he presently returned with about -half a dozen letters, which he handed to his -friend. "There you are," he said. "No -need to ask what you're going to do with -them. It's just like the things you used -to do when we were lads. It takes me -back to the old days when Christmas comes -around. Come up and see us, doc; the -latch string is always out," and he turned -to his desk, as the doctor with his budget -left the room.</p> - -<p>The latter went directly to his club, -and opened the funny, smudgy little notes. -Some of them printed; some sprawled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -across a wide page, some very zig-zag and -uncertain.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;">"<i>Don't, good Santa Claus, forget -our corner</i>," read one, "<i>20uth and -Purl street, if you can't git down the -chimney cause they are reggyters -come in the window, we'll leave it a -little bit open so you can hist it easy</i>.</p> - -<p style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Bob.</span>"</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>"That youngster's all right," nodded -the doctor. "I know the locality, and -there's not a doubt but that his stocking -will be well-filled."</p> - -<p>The next was printed.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;">"<i>I am a good girl bring me the -doll. Fill wants a bow narrow</i>,"</p></blockquote> - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;">—but there was no address, and this, too, -was laid aside.</p> - -<p>Then came a queer little, half-printed, -half-written epistle:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Dear Santa</span>: <i>I want a new -papa and a new kitten. Conny says -kittens are easy enuff to get, but -papas are much harder and very -spensive. but I dont want just any -kitten please, cause my dear Jollity -was black and all the kittens this year -are grey. if you have any black ones -to spare please bring me one and a -papa with a red ribbon around its -neck. dont go to grandpas at Fort -wurth where we were last year cause -we aint there now we are at 610 west -12 street.</i></p> - -<p style="text-align: right; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Elinor Temple.</span>"</p> -</blockquote> - -<p>As the doctor read the signature a red -flush mounted to his forehead, and he cast -a confused look around him; then he -slipped the letter into his pocket, took two -or three turns up and down the room, and -returned to his examination of the rest of -the mail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<p>The last two letters were pitiful appeals -from homes of want and misery; timid little -requests, full of childish faith, which made -the doctor shake his head and blink his -eyes, frowning the while. These letters -he also put aside, and then paced the floor -in deep thought.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 7em; margin-bottom: 10em;" src="images/image6.jpg" width="100" height="117" alt="End of Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 3em;" src="images/image7.jpg" width="450" height="143" alt="Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - - - - -<h2 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2.5em;">CHAPTER II</h2> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was high noon when he turned toward -home. He had forgotten all about -Kittyboy, but when the confident little -beastie came rubbing up against him, purring -softly, the doctor smiled, as if a sudden -thought had struck him, and stooping -down, he rubbed Kittyboy's head; after -which performance the artful little creature -rolled over on his back, and turned his -gold-colored eyes upon the doctor, inviting -a frolic; then up and away he scudded, -with arched back and curved tail, the very -embodiment of a witch's familiar.</p> - -<p>"You little imp of darkness!" cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -the doctor. "Such capers in the house of -a sober bachelor! You'll be occupying -my bedroom next and calling it your -own." A prediction which speedily came -true, for that very night Kittyboy slyly -crept up behind the doctor, and, hiding -himself, craftily bided his time, and in the -dead of night stole forth and curled himself -up on the foot of the bed, waking the -doctor in the morning by licking his hand -with a red, rough, little tongue. And -then followed wild, frantic gambols, dancing -and prancing over everything; coquettings -with the tassels of a dressing gown; -tussles with a slipper; mock fears of a -very innocent reflection in the glass; delicate -tip-toeings about the dressing table, -with attempts to pry into every box and -drawer; then one leap into the air and a -waltzing after a little black tail whose -existence Kittyboy seemed only that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -moment to have discovered. All this so -entertained the doctor, that he lay in bed -shaking with laughter at the absurd antics, -and went down to breakfast with Kittyboy -on his shoulder.</p> - -<p>After this it was evident that Kittyboy -considered the second-story front bedroom -as his own. To be sure he generously -allowed Dr. Brewster to share it, to -occupy the bed, if he were not in the middle -of it; or the doctor might sit in any -comfortable chair for which Kittyboy had -no immediate use; but the lordly little -creature took possession so absolutely -that the doctor's sense of humor was -greatly tickled by this overweening complacency -and confidence, and he meekly -took another chair when Kittyboy occupied -the better one, or, indeed, moved -over to the right side of the bed if Kittyboy -preferred the left.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was the evening of the day which -had seen the doctor at the Post Office. It -seemed to him that it had been many -more than twenty-four hours since the sly -little cat had followed him indoors, and had -ingratiated himself into the good man's -favor. Already the doctor was making -a confidant of this same little waif.</p> - -<p>"What would you do about it, you -little limb of Satan?" he asked, as he -opened the letter he had so carefully put -aside that morning. "Come, you shall -decide. Let us see what sort of oracle -you can make. You started this, anyhow, -as I remember. Now get me out of it, if -you can."</p> - -<p>Kittyboy winked soberly, as the doctor -thus addressed him, but looked very -wise, as if he knew much more than he -proposed to tell.</p> - -<p>The doctor softly stroked the black<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -fur, which was less rough than it had been -the day before. "Shall I go or not?" he -asked. "You can advise, and then, like -others in the same position, I'll do as I -choose. Here is the letter." He shook -it at the little creature, who grabbed it in -both paws, rolled over with it once or -twice, then taking it in his mouth he -jumped down from the table and walked -off with his prize to the chair where a soft -felt hat of the doctor's was lying. Into -this jumped Kittyboy, letter and all, and, -curling himself up, looked with a knowing -wink at the man who was watching him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/image3.jpg" width="450" height="559" alt="Into this jumped Kittyboy--Page 26" /> -</div> - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 2em;">"<i>Into this jumped Kittyboy</i>"—Page 26]</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<p>"Nothing could be plainer," laughed -the doctor. "Go is the word. Pick up -your hat and its contents, you say. Here -we are, take us and go. Such wisdom! -For real out and out witchcraft, commend -me to a black cat. Ah, Kittyboy, it is well -you did not live in the time of those old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -fellows, my ancestors, Wrastling Brewster -and Preserved Fish, and the rest, or we'd -both be strung up for practicing the -black arts, although such names as they -had were enough to choke them without -hanging.</p> - -<p>"Well, my small wizard, go it is, since -your suggestion suits my inclination; who -knows? who knows?" He sat absently -stroking the little cat, who had returned -to the table, and it was evident that something -had given him food for deep, and -not altogether unpleasant, reflection, for -the evening paper lay untouched, and the -open fire seemed to hold the man's fixed -attention. Was it Kittyboy's sorceries -that caused past events to rise as flames -from ashes, to add a new warmth to a half-chilled -memory?</p> - -<p>The next morning it was that Dr. -Brewster turned his steps toward a quiet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -street in a modest quarter of the city. An -open square gave a pleasant, airy appearance -to the neighborhood. The sun was -shining brightly, but the air was frosty, and -the doctor stepped along briskly. His footsteps -did not falter until he reached the -house, 610 West Twelfth Street, and then -for a moment he paused, taking off his -hat and wiping his brow as if it were a -warm day. Immediately after, however, -he mounted the steps with a firm step and -gave the bell a vigorous pull. It was -answered by a neat maid, who paused -expectantly for the card, which the doctor -did not produce. "Tell Mrs. Temple a -friend wishes to see her," was his message.</p> - -<p>He was ushered into a small room, -which was warm and cosy. A fire glowed -in a Baltimore heater. There were pretty, -tasteful articles scattered about, which -gave the room a cheerful, homelike look.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -The doctor picked up a book from the -table, put it down again, nervously took -two or three turns up and down the floor, -and finally stationed himself, with his hands -behind him, at one of the windows, fixing -his eyes upon the street.</p> - -<p>Presently some one entered, and a soft -voice said, "You wished to see me?"</p> - -<p>The doctor turned abruptly, and held -out his hand to the tall, fair woman who -stood before him. "Elinor," he said,—the -color mounted to the lady's cheek,—"Dr. -Brewster," she faltered. "How—where -did you learn of me?"</p> - -<p>"At the club," replied the doctor, -gravely and truthfully.</p> - -<p>"It is truly good to see an old friend," -continued Mrs. Temple. "You know—you -have heard."</p> - -<p>"I know nothing but that you are -here," answered the doctor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> - -<p>"My husband died two years ago," -went on Mrs. Temple. "He was very good -to me, and he idolized our little daughter." -Her eyes dropped before the doctor's -earnest gaze, but they had already told -that which the doctor had for so many -years longed to know, whether in marrying -big, wealthy, dissipated Captain Temple, -Elinor Arsquith had pleased merely herself, -or whether to spare her father's good -name she had sacrificed her girlhood.</p> - -<p>He drew in his breath quickly, and for -a moment no word was spoken between -them.</p> - -<p>"And your little girl?" asked the -doctor, breaking the silence.</p> - -<p>"She is with me here. I lost two little -ones in Texas, and Elinor is all I have left. -I felt that for her sake I must seek a different -climate, and that is why I am here."</p> - -<p>At that moment the curtains before the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -door parted, and a small figure appeared. -A solemn-faced little midget, about six -years old, clasping to her breast a battered -doll, stood before them.</p> - -<p>"Come in, dear, and speak to the -doctor," Mrs. Temple said, glad of an -interruption to a conversation which was -becoming embarrassing.</p> - -<p>The little one advanced slowly, till she -stood by the doctor's side. "Must I put -out my tongue?" she asked.</p> - -<p>The doctor smiled. "No, I think I -wouldn't. It's pretty cold for even a tongue -to be out to-day."</p> - -<p>The child laughed merrily. "I wanted -to go and buy mamma a little bunch of -vi'lets, but she said I would freeze my -nose off, and I wouldn't be pretty without -any nose, would I?" Then, glancing down -at her dilapidated, noseless doll, she looked -a little abashed. "Excuse me, Lily," she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -said gravely; "I didn't mean to hurt your -feelings. I love you just as much as if -you had as big a nose as the doctor's. -I didn't have any money in my bank, anyhow," -she continued, "and mamma could -not spare any five centses. You know -we aren't rich any more. I 'spect the -flowers are frozen up, anyway."</p> - -<p>"I'll get the violets for you," said the -doctor, without looking at Mrs. Temple. -"I know a nice, warm place where they -live, and if you'll trust me I think I can -find some fresh, sweet ones."</p> - -<p>Elinor clasped her hands. "You're -very nice," she assured him. "And if you -won't give me any nasty medicine, I'll -love you very much."</p> - -<p>"I promise no nasty medicine," agreed -the doctor, and their friendship was sealed. -So well did it proceed that when the doctor -took his leave, an hour later, Elinor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -hugged him frantically, saying, "Doctor, -come to-morrow. I get so lonely, and so -does mamma. I wish you'd come every -day," and the doctor's smile answered the -suggestion.</p> - -<p>"Mamma," said the child, after the -doctor had left them, "is that a very nice -man?"</p> - -<p>"Why, darling; yes—of course—yes—he -is very nice."</p> - -<p>"I fought so," she returned confidently. -"Is he very 'spensive?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, you mean—wealthy. I think -so, enough so, at all events. What -funny questions. Why do you want to -know?"</p> - -<p>"Just 'cause I like to ask funny questions. -Mamma, do you like bread?"</p> - -<p>"Why, you midget, you are just asking -questions to tease your mudder. You -know I like bread."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - -<p>Elinor laughed gleefully, and looked -down at her doll. "Lily told me a secret -to-day," she said, "and she won't let me -tell till Christmas. It's a very nice one, -but I can't tell you, mamma."</p> - -<p>"Very well. I will wait till Christmas."</p> - -<p>"Don't you want to know it?" the -child asked, anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Not if you don't want to tell it."</p> - -<p>"But I do, only Lily won't let me. -Mamma, this morning I was a kitten."</p> - -<p>"You were? I didn't discover it."</p> - -<p>"I was. I had a red ribbon round my -neck, and I was black, and Lily was Elinor -Temple, and she played with me. See -where I scratched her. Do you want me -to be a kitten for you, mamma?"</p> - -<p>"Not if you scratch, nor if you have -to turn black."</p> - -<p>That amused Elinor greatly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I doesn't have to. I've just make-believe -claws. Mamma, are you going to -take me to church on Christmas?"</p> - -<p>"Why, of course. Don't you want -to go?"</p> - -<p>"I didn't last Sunday; it was so long. -The man in the white gown said so much. -I fink he was a chatterbox."</p> - -<p>"Why, Elinor! what a thing to say -about the good rector."</p> - -<p>"Well, mamma, it is what you say -about me when I talk a long time, and -you love me."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Temple smiled. "Then you don't -want to go to church on Christmas?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, but I do; I like to hear the little -boys sing, and I like to see the green -things, but——"</p> - -<p>"You get tired sitting so long?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, mamma; I couldn't get tired; -I get too much rested."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I see. Well, dearie, we will go to -the early service, which is not so long."</p> - -<p>"And then come home and have the -Santa Claus part of it for dessert; that -will be nice. I wish the doctor would -come soon; I want to ask him somefing."</p> - -<p>The doctor did come soon. Indeed, -there was scarcely a day after this which -did not see his stalwart form turning into -the quiet street, and the affection between -the grave man and the pretty child grew -apace, so that many confidences passed -between them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 7em; margin-bottom: 10em;" src="images/image8.jpg" width="100" height="112" alt="End of chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 3em;" src="images/image9.jpg" width="450" height="146" alt="Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<h2 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2.5em;">CHAPTER III</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">One</span> afternoon the two were cosily -occupying one big chair, in the -absence of Mrs. Temple, who was glad to -leave her treasure so well satisfied to -stay at home, while she attended to some -Christmas shopping.</p> - -<p>"Let's talk about Christmas," said -Elinor, cuddling down by the side of the -doctor, after watching her mother out of -sight.</p> - -<p>"Isn't there a Santa Claus?" she -asked.</p> - -<p>"So I have always been told."</p> - -<p>"There, I said so; Bill says there isn't."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>"And who is Bill?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, a friend of mine," returned Elinor, -jauntily.</p> - -<p>"I should like to know something about -him."</p> - -<p>"Oh, he's just a boy with——" she -clapped her hands over her mouth, and -looked, with eyes full of laughter, at the -doctor.</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, doctor, it isn't nice to make -remarks about the dress of your friends," -returned the little monkey, drawing down -her mouth demurely, and looking up -mischievously from under her long -lashes.</p> - -<p>"Then suppose we don't mention his -dress. Tell me something else about -him."</p> - -<p>"He has a very dirty face," said Elinor, -with a little chuckle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - -<p>"He has? That is unfortunate. Why -doesn't he wash it?"</p> - -<p>"I reckon 'cause he hasn't any soap or -towels."</p> - -<p>"But he can get water easily."</p> - -<p>"Yes; but, doctor, don't you know how -horrid it is to have your face washed, and -to stand with it all dripping, 'specially in -cold weather? and if you had no towel, -you know, you wouldn't want to wash your -face, either."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not. Well, Bill is a boy with -a dirty face. Is that all? Has he nothing -else to boast of?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; he has a sister named Gerty. -I s'pose she has a dirty face, too. I never -saw her, 'cause she's got the rickets, and -her grandfather has had yaller janders; but -they is about gone. I think they must be -rather pretty, don't you?"</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Why, the yaller janders. It sounds -like some sort of a flower, I always fink of—what -are the yellow fings that come in -the spring—the early ones?"</p> - -<p>"Daffodils?"</p> - -<p>Elinor shook her head. "Not zactly; -mamma said they were about the same."</p> - -<p>"Oh, jonquils."</p> - -<p>"Yes, that's it; are they anything -alike?"</p> - -<p>"Like what? Daffodils?"</p> - -<p>"No; like yaller janders. Are yaller -jonquils anything like them?"</p> - -<p>"No. I can't say that they are."</p> - -<p>"Have you any at your house?"</p> - -<p>The doctor laughed—"Fortunately, no, -I know of none nearer than a hospital."</p> - -<p>"Oh, do they grow in hospitals?"</p> - -<p>"Sometimes."</p> - -<p>"Will you take me there and show them -to me?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I don't believe you would be particularly -pleased to see anyone with what Bill -calls 'yaller janders.'"</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"Because it is not a very pleasant disease -to gaze upon."</p> - -<p>"Is it a sickness? Oh, I'm so disypointed. -I fought they were flowers, and -I was so glad the old grandfather had -them. That's a dreffel disypointment," -she added, after a moment's silence.</p> - -<p>"But you have not told me about -Bill," the doctor reminded her. "Where -did you meet him—at a party?"</p> - -<p>"No-o," contemptuously. "I met him -in the square. He sells vi'lets. I reckon -that's why I fought his grandfather had -flowers—yaller jander flowers.—Is bronicles -flowers?"</p> - -<p>"I never heard of them."</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear, I s'pect that's another disease.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -You see it fooled me to see Bill -selling vi'lets. I kind of fought he had a -big garden full, or his grandfather had. -He said his grandfather used to go out -selling flowers till sumfing got the matter -with his bronicles, and they couldn't stand -the east wind."</p> - -<p>The doctor laughed so heartily that -Elinor looked quite aggrieved.</p> - -<p>"I'll not tell you any more," she said, -"if you make fun of me, and I was going -to tell you lots."</p> - -<p>"Oh, please pardon my laughter. I'll -try not to be so silly again. You see, I -sometimes laugh at nothing at all. It is a -habit I have formed from living alone."</p> - -<p>Elinor looked at him very soberly. -She wasn't quite sure whether this was -earnest or not, but his being alone seemed -a sufficient excuse, and, moreover, appealed -to her sympathies, so she took hold of one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -of her friend's big fingers, and held it -confidingly.</p> - -<p>"Tell me truly," she said, "do you -believe in Santa Claus?"</p> - -<p>"Most certainly. I think he is the -greatest invention of any age."</p> - -<p>"Oh, good! That sounds so certain -sure. That's what Connie says. I didn't -make it up. I did make up sumfing once."</p> - -<p>"You did? What was it?"</p> - -<p>"A——I don't know what to call it. -I'll tell you, and then you'll know." She -nestled her golden head against the doctor's -shoulder, and looked up in his face. -"I was jumping in the cellar one day -with Ida Miller, and I made a tree-men-jus -jump, and I said, 'Oh, Ida, I made a -jump right smite the javelin.' Don't you -fink that's fine? I have said it over lots -of times, 'cause I like the way it sounds, -somefing like the Bible, you know."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I think it is one of the most grandiloquent -phrases I ever heard. You do not -know how I admire it."</p> - -<p>"Do you, really?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, really."</p> - -<p>"Then, I'm glad I told you. Now, I'll -tell you somefing else. It's a secret, but -Lily said I might tell you. She won't let -me tell mamma. It's about Bill. Do you -want to hear it?"</p> - -<p>"Very much."</p> - -<p>"And you won't tell?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"Cross your heart?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; cross my heart."</p> - -<p>"Then, it is this: Bill said he didn't -believe there wa'n't no Santa Claus. He -said it just that way." She stopped and -looked searchingly at the doctor, but he -was listening attentively.</p> - -<p>She gave her little mirthful chuckle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -and went on. "Then I said, 'if you write -to him, and he brings you what you ask, -I reckon you'll believe in him,' and he said -he'd be a blamed fool to do such a fing. -He said blamed fool——"</p> - -<p>"All right, he said blamed fool."</p> - -<p>Elinor buried her head in the doctor's -sleeve and laughed silently. Then she -looked up with eyes still full of mirth. -"That was so funny," she said.</p> - -<p>"What was?"</p> - -<p>"To hear you say blamed fool. Did -you ever say it before?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps."</p> - -<p>"Don't you like to say it? I do. I -go off in the corner and say it to Lily -sometimes, just 'cause I like to hear -myself. Do you do that?"</p> - -<p>"Go off by myself and say it to Lily? -I haven't any Lily."</p> - -<p>"No, of course, but you might say it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -just the same to a chair—or—or anyfing. -Mamma says it's not nice for a lady to say -it, and that's why I'm doing it all I can -now, 'cause I'll be a lady some day, and -then I can't. There are lots of fings that -way. Anyhow, Bill said it, and I told him -he was an aggynorstic. That sounds like a -dreadful word, but it isn't, for I heard -mamma call somebody that, and I asked -her what it meant, and she said it -meant a person that doesn't believe. I -fought it would scare Bill, for I fink -it has a scary sound, like the day of -wrath."</p> - -<p>The doctor turned away his head, and, -taking out his handkerchief, buried his face -in it, a violent fit of coughing seeming to -overtake him.</p> - -<p>Elinor looked quite alarmed, but the -doctor assured her it was only a small -matter, and though very red in the face,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -he resumed a grave demeanor and asked -Elinor to continue her tale.</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/image4.jpg" width="450" height="549" alt="The Doctor turned away his head," /> -</div> - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 2em;">"<i>The Doctor turned away his head,<br /> and taking out his handkerchief, -buried his face in it</i>"—Page 46]</p> - -<hr class="chap" style="page-break-after: always;" /> - -<p>"Well," she went on, "'then Bill,' I said, -'you're an aggynorstic,' and he stared at -me so hard. 'I don't like aggynorstics,' I -said, and he said 'what'll I do about it?' -And I said, 'you write to Santa Claus just -like'——Oh, my! I was just going to -tell such a precious secret. I won't, -though——Anyhow, I made him promise -he'd write to Santa Claus if I'd buy -vi'lets whenever I had any money in my -bank. And he did write, and now I -reckon he'll find out. He's real e'cited -over it."</p> - -<p>"And where does he live?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, back in a little street that runs -skwy-eyed, Connie says, across this. It's a -horrid little street, and mamma won't let -me go there, but I know where it is."</p> - -<p>"And where does Bill sell his violets?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> - -<p>"In the square, by the fountain. He -has beautiful red hair and the loveliest -freckles you ever saw. I wish I had freckles -and red hair; don't you?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say that I do desire them -greatly, and I'm sure I like you much -better as you are."</p> - -<p>"Do you? Well, maybe you do, but -I don't. Do you fink Santa Claus got -Bill's letter? I hope he did, for it seems -dreadful for anyone to have no Santa Claus -and no Christmas; it makes me feel sorry -inside, as if I had eaten too many cakes. -Do you fink he got it?"</p> - -<p>"That depends upon where he mailed -it."</p> - -<p>"Why, in the post-office box, of course. -The one on the corner, by the square, that -says U. S. mail on it. What makes them -turn it hind part before? Why don't they -say mail us? It means the letters you put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -in, of course. It's so the man with the -funny little wagon will know."</p> - -<p>The doctor frowned; then he laughed. -It was such a funny translation of the U. S. -mail. But just such fantastic ideas he -knew took possession of the child. "That's -all right," he said. "Uncle Sam does put -things wrong-end-foremost sometimes. -You tell Bill that if he put his letter in the -box there's not the slightest doubt but that -it will be answered."</p> - -<p>"I saw him put it in. He showed it -to me, and I went with him to mail it. He -can write pretty well, for he went to school -before that time; about—about the bronicles, -you know."</p> - -<p>The doctor nodded understandingly.</p> - -<p>"Do you believe Santa Claus will have -enough turkeys to go around? Mamma -says, if he hasn't, I may send Bill and -Gerty some of mine. I'm going to try to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -eat a very little piece, but I like turkey, -and I hope Bill and Gerty will have a whole -one to themselves, and I hope Gerty will -get a doll, and if she doesn't, I'll have to -send her the one Santa Claus brings me."</p> - -<p>"Why would you have to?"</p> - -<p>"Why, 'cause I wouldn't be such a -piggy-wiggy as to keep two, and she not -have any. It wouldn't be nice of me, -when I have Lily. Could you have lots -of fings when you knew somebody else -didn't have any?"</p> - -<p>This was a home thrust, made so truthfully -and innocently that the doctor wondered -why all these years' Christmastide -had not brought home to him such a -reproach. He had eaten, drunken, been -comfortable and care free, while just such -opportunities had been waiting for him as -this year offered.</p> - -<p>"Well," he said, as he took his departure,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -"it's all right about Santa Claus, -you tell Bill."</p> - -<p>"And you won't tell anyone," whispered -Elinor.</p> - -<p>He assured her that the secret was -safe, and went off with a very warm feeling -inside. There seemed to be an expansiveness -of light in the setting sun; a -brightness about existence in general, -which even cases of "yaller janders" -and weak "bronicles" could not overshadow.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 7em; margin-bottom: 10em;" src="images/image10.jpg" width="100" height="97" alt="End of chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 3em;" src="images/image11.jpg" width="450" height="188" alt="Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<h2 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2.5em;">CHAPTER IV</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">"I must</span> look after that family," mused -the doctor. "Bless the young things! -a frolicsome kitten and a little earnest child, -full of faith and love of human kind, can -be wonderful factors in the matter of happiness. -Strange how I have gone along -missing both and not knowing what I -missed. Let me see. I'll send Hooper to -look after grandfather's 'bronicles;' he -smiled broadly at the remembrance of the -garbled word. I'd rather not have the -little one know that I've a hand in it, and -'twill be good for Hooper to try his hand -at that sort of thing. Let me see if that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -youngster's letter reached its proper destination." -He stopped and pulled out the -packet he carried.</p> - -<p>Yes, there it was, signed "Bill." The -doctor stood and read the poor smudgy, -mis-spelled little missive over, put it back -in his pocket, and walked thoughtfully on, -not knowing that at that very moment he -was passing the writer, who, with his meagre -supply of wan-looking violets, was -offering them for sale.</p> - -<p>Bill as little knew that the letter over -which he had spent much thought and -hard labor was resting in the doctor's -pocket, for he imagined it to be in the -hands of a red-nosed, white-haired individual, -with a jolly countenance and a -twinkling eye—such a one as could be -seen, more or less realistically represented -in shop windows. A very different looking -person, indeed, from this portly, prosperous-appearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -man with the keen eyes, -who wore "swagger clothes, and didn't -care nothin' fer poor cusses, or he'd 'a -bought somethin' from a feller." Bill's ire -was roused by this kind of person, so indifferent -and absent-minded, as never even -to glance at the violets, nor give a regretful -negative, as some nice ladies did.</p> - -<p>"Talk about old Santa Claus," muttered -Bill, "if he is anybody at all, he ain't -friends to nobody but rich folks; that's -what I say. I ain't never heard from him, an' -I guess I ain't never goin' to, what's more."</p> - -<p>But, as if to chide his lack of faith, -Elinor herself appeared like a reproving -angel at his side. "Bill," she said, standing -on tip-toe that she might see the box-cover -in which the violets lay, "Bill, have -you sold lots to-day?"</p> - -<p>"No, I ain't," he answered, rather -crossly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Oh, then, I can spend all these five -centses. The doctor picked them all out of -his pocket for me, and told me to buy -vi'lets for mamma. So, I have to. Ten -five centses, see. I told mamma I would -come right back. She is watching out of -the window for me."</p> - -<p>Bill's face took on a little sunshine. -Ten bunches! Why, it would nearly clean -out his stock. What luck!</p> - -<p>"Say," he said, in a low voice, "'bout -that Santa Claus, you know. Time's gittin' -clost."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Elinor, eagerly holding -out her hands to receive the violets.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe he comes to poor -folks," continued Bill; "mind, I don't say -there ain't no Santa Claus; but I say he -ain't no friend o' folks what lives in -Hitchen's court."</p> - -<p>"Oh, but he is. Dr. Brewster says so,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -and he knows everyfing—he does truly—and -he told me to tell you that there was -a Santa Claus, really, really." Bill stared -at the ground. "And he said if you put -your letter in the box, Santa Claus will -surely get it there, and you will get an -answer. So, now," and she walked off -with a little switch of her skirts, and a -decided sort of air, as she would say there -was no further doubt possible.</p> - -<p>Bill looked after her. Ten bunches of -violets meant a corresponding amount of -faith, and an hour later an empty box lid -went home with him. But the very fact of -the emptiness of the box cover meant a -fullness of belief. And Gerty; poor little, -rickety Gerty, also received a prop to her -faltering hopes in Bill's words. "They -are a Sandy Claus, Gert, sure as shootin'! -A big bug what I knows about says so. -Ain't you glad?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Are you goin' to believe in him?" -asked Gerty, in an excited whisper.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I am," sturdily returned Bill.</p> - -<p>"So'm I, then," answered Gerty. "I'm -goin' to believe he'll bring me a doll, and -a—a orange, and a—a new frock, and a—a -picture book and candy, and—" her whisper -rose shrilly as she became more ambitious, -"and a—a turkey!" The climax was -reached.</p> - -<p>"Sho!" said Bill, doubtfully, "I don't -believe he'll do all that."</p> - -<p>"What's the use of believing at all if -you don't believe he can do every bit?" -returned Gerty, who did not regard half -measures with favor. "I'm goin' to believe -I'll git it all—and more," she added, with -an extra touch of defiance of fate.</p> - -<p>Bill looked at her half-admiringly. Such -temerity was beyond his mental stature, -although, given a proper field for physical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -valor, and he'd show no white feather, as -various urchins in the neighborhood could -testify.</p> - -<p>"How long is it before Christmas?" -asked Gerty. "Three days, ain't it?"</p> - -<p>"'Bout that. Say, Gert, we ain't ast -fur nothin' fur grandpop in that letter."</p> - -<p>"Why, yes, we did. We ast fur a doctor -to cure his bronicles. Don't you know?"</p> - -<p>"So we did. How is he?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, he's kinder yaller yit, -an' he can't eat much."</p> - -<p>A sharp rap at the door interrupted -them, and a smiling young man entered to -to their "Come in."</p> - -<p>"Is this—Bill?" he asked.</p> - -<p>The boy nodded.</p> - -<p>"Your grandfather, he's ill?"</p> - -<p>"Hm-hm," returned Bill, looking suspiciously -at the visitor's careful attire.</p> - -<p>"Ah, yes." The young man put up an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -eye-glass and peered around the dingy -rooms, Bill meantime eying him, as much -as to say, what business is it of yours how -we look?</p> - -<p>"Could I see him?" queried the young -man.</p> - -<p>"I dunno. See here. What d'yer -want? I'll pay yer rent. Yer needn't go -badgerin' gran'pop about it."</p> - -<p>The young man stared. "Bless me, -my son. I don't want any rent. I'm," he -smiled, and whimsically took out his -card case. "Pardon me for not properly -introducing myself. I am Dr. Hooper, and -I have been asked to call professionally -on your grandfather by a friend of his."</p> - -<p>"Whew!" Bill gave voice to a low -whistle, and glanced at Gerty, who had -taken the card with a funny little air of -polite acceptance, and, at a word from her -brother, led the way into a hole of a room,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -hardly more than a closet, where an old -man lay.</p> - -<p>The doctor remained about fifteen or -twenty minutes, and when he again came -into the presence of the boy and his sister, -he said:</p> - -<p>"I think your grandfather will be better -under my immediate care, and I will see -that he is removed—if—if you don't object—to -a pleasant room in a pleasant place."</p> - -<p>"An 'orspital?" queried Gerty.</p> - -<p>The young man nodded.</p> - -<p>"Say, look here, he ain't goin' to no -'orspital," objected Bill.</p> - -<p>"He is, too," retorted Gerty; then -turning to the doctor, "You can take -him." She gave the permission grandly. -"I know all about it and Bill don't. I've -seen one."</p> - -<p>"My son," said the doctor, addressing -Bill, "your sister is a person of unusual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -acumen. She—she knows a good thing -when she sees it. I give you my word that -the friend of whom I spoke thoroughly -approves of your grandfather's removal."</p> - -<p>"And can't we see him?" asked Bill, -looking very dubious.</p> - -<p>"Bless you, yes, every day, if you want -to."</p> - -<p>"And will you bring him back for -Christmas?" asked Bill again.</p> - -<p>The doctor considered. "If it is possible. -At least, I can promise you shall -eat your Christmas dinner together."</p> - -<p>The two children exchanged glances. -The answer implied that there was to be a -Christmas dinner.</p> - -<p>"I will come to-morrow morning in -my carriage for him," added the doctor. -"That is, if I may."</p> - -<p>"Yer hear that, Gert? A kerridge. -Ain't we swagger?" and Bill laughed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<p>He followed the young doctor to the -door, and shut it after him as he went outside. -Plucking him by the sleeve, he asked -in a low tone, "Mister doctor, that there -friend what sent you. Say, honest now, -tell a fellow square. Was it old Sandy -Claus?"</p> - -<p>The doctor hesitated, looked down at -the earnest, ugly little face, lighted up by -a strong hope, its dirt and unhealthy -color but dimly descried in the flaring -light of the dingy court, and he felt a -new concern for this "gutter-snipe" with -whom he had suddenly come in contact. -He laughed softly and said, "Yes; you're -about right. Call him Santa Claus."</p> - -<p>Bill went in and shut the door very -solemnly. Things were happening mysteriously, -and he felt somewhat awed at -what his experiences implied.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img style="margin-top: 3em;" src="images/image12.jpg" width="450" height="183" alt="Chapter illustration" /> -</div> - -<h2 style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2.5em;">CHAPTER V</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dr.</span> Brewster received a call from his -young assistant that same evening. -He entered with a bored, blase air into the -doctor's study, and stood staring, and, -slapping his gloves together as if he had -not one single idea in his noddle. Then -he spoke.</p> - -<p>"The old fellow—in Hitchen's Court, -you know—beastly dirty hole, by the way—he -needs looking after, wants a sunny -room and good nourishment, and all that -sort of thing. He'll get worse if he stays -there. I'm going to take him to our hospital, -if you don't mind."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Take him?" the doctor chuckled.</p> - -<p>The young man flushed, "Yes. Bah -Jove! I can't see an old fellow like that, -don't you know, dying for want of a little -attention. Now, doctor, I'm no charity -fiend, but—I say, what are you chuckling -about?"</p> - -<p>"At your past record in the matter of -pet charities, and your open expressions -regarding those who have them. Go on, -Sig, my dear fellow. You said you'd take -him."</p> - -<p>The young man flung off his overcoat, -displaying his evening dress and the flower -in his button-hole. "Yes, I said <i>take</i> him—in -my carriage to-morrow morning." -He looked up, as if expecting protest.</p> - -<p>"Bless you, man, I don't object if you -don't," returned the older man. "He's an -old fraud, doubtless, has no 'bronicles' to -speak of, and wouldn't know 'yaller janders'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -from scarlet fever. Where do you -purpose placing him?"</p> - -<p>"In the pay ward," said the young -doctor, defiantly.</p> - -<p>Dr. Brewster threw back his head and -laughed.</p> - -<p>"But, I say, doctor," continued the -other, "you ought to see him, such a pitiful-looking, -white-haired, old chap, with -those kids on his hands for years. I say, -he's been handicapped, you know. And—Bah -Jove! doctor, what did you send -me there for?"</p> - -<p>"To see how you liked Hitchen's -Court."</p> - -<p>The young man passed over the reply. -"I say it's a beastly shame," he went on. -"That old chap is a better fellow than I am -any day, I say, there's something wrong."</p> - -<p>"Desperately so, I grant you—with -us."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> - -<p>The young man looked up quickly. -"It's beastly," he repeated.</p> - -<p>"Sig, you're a huge joke," laughed the -doctor. "Go 'long with you and your paupers. -By the way, what about the children?"</p> - -<p>The young man smiled broadly. "They -are a pair. I believe that poor little wretch -of a red-headed snipe supports the family. -Ah, doctor, I say we're nowhere with my -Lord William. Such airs; bluffed me off -at first."</p> - -<p>He sat on the arm of the chair, -swinging one foot thoughtfully. Dr. Brewster -looked at him. Young, good-looking, -rich; what the public called "a howling -swell;" a dilettante in his profession, yet -possessing ability, if but the proper motive -stirred his impulses. He had been wont -to maintain that half the world's poor were -whining impostors, and the other half -incorrigible reprobates.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> - -<p>The elder man watched him with a -half smile. "You'll take the old man, then, -and I'll see to the young ones," he -remarked after a time.</p> - -<p>Sigourney Hooper slipped on his overcoat -again. "By the way," he said, "they -think Santa Claus sent me," and he gave a -grin of amusement.</p> - -<p>Dr. Brewster looked grave. "Who is -Santa Claus, anyhow?" he returned. -"The embodiment of goodness, charity -and kindly feeling."</p> - -<p>"They were right, then," replied Sigourney, -holding out his hand. "We'll have to -give them a Christmas, doctor, for I promised -not to keep grandfather from the -bosom of his family on that festal day. -Holy Moses! Festivities in that hole! -Ugh!"</p> - -<p>Dr. Brewster sat smiling to himself -long after his visitor had departed. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -wheel within a wheel, the ripples caused -by the dropping of the smallest of pebbles; -the movings toward a broad humanity set -astir by the prattle of a child; by the -instinctive appeal for warmth and protection -made by a little hunted animal; the -breath of the spirit on the face of the -waters! He pondered over these mysterious -forces, while Kittyboy purred contentedly -at his elbow.</p> - -<p>Kittyboy fared well these days. He -never failed to station himself by the -doctor's chair at meal time, and was so -indulged in the matter of tid-bits that -his coat grew as sleek as satin; and if he -had not been of such a very volatile temperament, -it is quite likely that he would -have become fat and lazy.</p> - -<p>The housekeeper confided to Maggie -that something had made the doctor grow -ten years younger, and the housemaid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -immediately attributed the fact to the -presence of Kittyboy. Certain it is that -the doctor busied himself with many things -to which he had heretofore seemed indifferent, -and his sober establishment underwent -all sorts of changes. "All on account of -the cat," said Maggie.</p> - -<p>A well-to-do physician who has retained -just enough practice to keep him contented -is rather an enviable individual, and Dr. -Brewster looked the picture of genial content -as he stepped into his carriage on -Christmas Eve. Just where he went was -best known to his coachman, who had long -ago learned the value of keeping his own -counsel. But the faith in Santa Claus -which that evening justified was felt in -more than one wretched dwelling. Especially -did two anxious little souls, who had -staked their last hope on the letter they -had sent, feel that their mustard seed of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -belief had indeed grown to gigantic size -when hampers and bundles from Santa -Claus were displayed to their glad and -astonished eyes.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Bill, I said I believed he'd bring all -I wanted, and more," cried Gerty, laughing -and crying at the same time. "And he -did, he did. And grandpop's gone to stay -in that grand room and get well, and I'm -goin' to get well, and we've a whole turkey -and fixins, Bill, fixins. I never said nothin' -about them. And gran'pop 'll be here an' -help us eat it. An', oh, Bill. They are a -Sandy Claus, they are, ain't they?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I should smile," replied Bill, -surveying the bountiful supplies before -him.</p> - -<p>"An' you'll tell that little gal first thing, -won't you?" said Gerty.</p> - -<p>"Won't I!" returned Bill, too happy -for more speech.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>The doctor paced the floor a long time -that night. He thought of many things; -of the dreary dwellings he had that day -seen; of the sorrowing poor; of the little -it had taken to make a few hearts glad, -and most of all he thought of little Elinor -Temple and her mother. He remembered -a Christmas Eve which had promised him -a great joy, but which had brought him a -great sorrow—the sorrow which he had -kept locked in his heart for fifteen long -years. Not once had he faltered in his -faith in the girl who had turned from the -young physician, just starting on his career, -and had married rollicking Captain Temple. -Dr. Brewster smiled sadly as he -remembered how Mrs. Temple had said -but the day before: "We sometimes make -errors of judgment, but if we err from a -mistaken motive of unselfishness, we suffer -just the same." And that had told the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -whole story. It was the only justification -she had ever attempted, the only reference -to what he knew she must have endured; -but he had inadvertently heard many things -during these past weeks. He had re-read, -with fresh delight, an old chapter in his life. -He had opened his heart to the love of an -innocent child, and the door being open, -what else fair and beautiful might not find -admittance.</p> - -<p>There was a rare exultation in the doctor's -smile, as the bells rang in the midnight -hour, and declared the promise of -peace and good will.</p> - -<p>On Christmas morning around Kittyboy's -neck was fastened, by the doctor's -own hand, a bright red ribbon. Then he -was placed in a basket and deposited upon -the cushions of the doctor's carriage.</p> - -<p>With the basket in his hand, Dr. -Brewster entered Mrs. Temple's cozy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -sitting-room, where a hearty welcome -awaited him.</p> - -<p>"Elinor has such a host of pretty -things," said the child's mother, "and yet -she seems a little disappointed. She tells -me there are two gifts she specially wanted, -which Santa Claus did not bring her, but -she will not tell me what they are."</p> - -<p>"I think I know," returned the doctor, -smiling. "Come here, Dot, Santa Claus -asked me to bring your gifts to you, -because he could not trust any one else, -and he knew I'd take better care of them -than some others."</p> - -<p>Elinor looked at him gravely from -under her long lashes, and watched eagerly -while he uncovered the basket, from out -of which jumped a sleek black little kitten, -which stretched himself comfortably, looking -up with friendly eyes at the doctor.</p> - -<p>"Oh, mine own Jollity!" cried Elinor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -"Oh, mamma, see! Oh, isn't Santa Claus -good?" and she clasped Kittyboy rapturously -in her arms. "And the other -present," she said, laughing, "you couldn't -bring that in a basket."</p> - -<p>"It is here, if mamma will let you keep -it," and the doctor took the child on his -knee, hiding his face in her curly locks. -"Tell mamma what it is," he whispered.</p> - -<p>"Oh, mamma," cried the child, "I -wrote to Santa Claus and asked him for a -new kitty and a new papa. That was the -secret Lily and I had." For a moment she -looked puzzled, and then a light broke -over her face, while she let the kitten go, -and clasped the doctor's neck closer, closer. -"And, oh mamma," she continued, "when -Santa Claus has sent me such a beautiful, -'spensive papa, you will let me keep him, -won't you?" And the mother, amid -laughter and blushes, could not say her nay.</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p> </p> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 3em;">TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</p> - -<p>Obvious printer errors have been corrected. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Kittyboy's Christmas - - -Author: Amy Ella Blanchard - - - -Release Date: January 8, 2017 [eBook #53920] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KITTYBOY'S CHRISTMAS*** - - -E-text prepared by Chris Whitehead, Charlene Taylor, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 53920-h.htm or 53920-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53920/53920-h/53920-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53920/53920-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/kittyboyschristm00blan - - - - - -[Illustration: _A solemn-faced little midget, about six years old, -clasping to her breast a battered doll, stood before them_--Page 31] - - -KITTYBOY'S CHRISTMAS - -by - -AMY E. BLANCHARD - -Author of "Two Girls," "Taking a Stand," -"A Dear Little Girl," etc. - -Illustrated by Ida Waugh - - - - - - - -Philadelphia -George W. Jacobs & Co. -1898 - -Copyright by -George W. Jacobs & Co. -1898 - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER I - - -Kittyboy was lost. It was an evident fact. He stood on the corner of -the alley which led into a wide street to which he had been chased -by an aggressive dog, and with every hair bristling, looked around -for a friendly door, but they were all shut closely; and the snow was -beginning to fall, in an uncertain way, just a flake here and there, -displaying exquisitely perfect crystals on the stone steps and the -brick pavement, then melting away very slowly. - -Kittyboy tucked his four small paws neatly under him, and crouched in a -corner, once in a while giving a plaintive little "meow," which no one -noticed, if any one heard. Yet, after all, Kittyboy's losing of himself -was not such a dreadful thing, for he was always being kicked aside -as a troublesome beast, even before his little mistress, Annie Brady, -was sent away to a Home, being considered by her uncle's family in the -light of a nuisance, quite as great as Kittyboy himself. Nevertheless, -in spite of his rather unpleasant experiences in the world, Kittyboy -was full of a happy confidence in humanity scarcely to be expected. -So, presently seeing a figure coming up the street, he rose from his -compact attitude and ran along by the railing of an area, rubbing his -sides against the narrow bars, and finally followed the figure up the -broad steps; then, as the latch-key was turned in the door, he saw his -opportunity, and slipped in. - -It was rather late; eleven o'clock or more, and getting colder every -minute. The house was very quiet, no one astir anywhere; a light, -however, was burning in one room, where a warm fire blazed in the open -grate, the sight of which so delighted Kittyboy that he began to purr -contentedly. The light, now turned up, showed more distinctly what -manner of person it was whom Kittyboy had followed: an elderly man, -with keen, sharp eyes; he was somewhat portly, was well dressed, and -brisk in his movements. Kittyboy's little black form, snuggled in one -corner, where he sat blinking at the fire, was not noticed by this -other occupant of the room, who, lighting a cigar, sat down by a table, -stretched out his legs comfortably, and unfolded the evening paper. - -Presently, the sharp sound of a coal dropping on the polished hearth -disturbed Kittyboy's nap, and he jumped up, with visions of whips -cracking over his head, and gave a leap away from the fire. The sharp -noise also attracted the attention of the reader, who looked over the -top of his newspaper to see four little furry feet daintily stepping -across the rug. - -"What are you doing here! Get out, cat!" came an exclamation in so much -milder language than that to which Kittyboy was accustomed, that he -considered it in the light of an overture, and springing up on the arm -of the chair, in which this new acquaintance was sitting, he proceeded -to play with the newspaper, patting the two sides, with ears very much -forward, and an alert look on the wise little face, as if in momentary -expectation of seeing a mouse jump out from the folds of the sheet. - -The very audacity of the performance tickled the man's fancy. "You -impudent little beast," he said; "how did you get in here, anyhow? -Aha! I know. I believe I saw you as I came up the steps. You must have -slipped in behind me. But this will never do; you will have to get out -again. No cats allowed in my house." - -For answer, Kittyboy began to rub his head against the arm nearest him, -purring softly. - -The man regarded him less severely. "If I'm going to turn you out, -I may as well give you something to eat. You are none too well fed, -I see," he remarked; and, rising, he took his way to another room, -where, after hunting around, he found in the larder a pitcher of -cream, set away by the housekeeper for her master's morning coffee. -All unconscious of bringing dismay to the worthy woman, Dr. Brewster -emptied the contents of the pitcher in a saucer and set it down, -watching Kittyboy eagerly lap up this unexpected treat. - -"Now you must go," said the doctor; and Kittyboy followed confidently -at his heels. But the draught of icy wind which greeted him as the -front door was opened, caused the little fellow to scamper back to -the library, where, before the open fire, he again sat down and began -complacently to wash his face. - -Back into the room came Dr. Brewster, laughing in spite of himself. -"You are a sly little rascal," he said; "come, come," and he picked -up the unresisting little creature, which cuddled down comfortably in -his arms, as if it were beyond the bounds of possibility that a second -attempt should be made to put him out, and the good doctor actually -began to have compunctions. "I always vowed I'd never have a cat -in the house," he said, under his breath; "am I to give in at this -late day? Well! you audacious little wretch, I'll let you stay till -morning. It's too cold a night to turn any creature out of doors," and -Kittyboy's triumph was complete when he was put down on the hearth-rug -and allowed to continue his ablutions, while the doctor resumed his -paper. - -But it was strange that the presence of a little black cat could turn a -sober man's interest from foreign news and the quotations of the stock -market, and that he should have found himself dwelling on the memory of -two little eager faces which he had seen that day gazing into a window -decked out with Christmas toys, and, furthermore, that twice he should -have read over an item which went as follows: - -"Every year, about Christmas time, a number of letters find their way -to the Post Office; they are variously addressed to Santa Claus, Kris -Kringle, or St. Nicholas, and are the outcome of childish faith. One -is forced to wonder how often they must be followed by disappointment, -since there can appear no claimant for them." - -The doctor, we have said, read the paragraph twice over, and then, -lowering his paper, sat looking thoughtfully into the fire. After -a while a smile broke over his face, and he returned to his sheet. -But the smile did not leave his lips till he extinguished the light -and went to his room, leaving the sleeping Kittyboy curled up on the -hearth-rug in a condition of delicious warmth and comfort. - -When, the next morning, at the sight of buckets and brooms brought -in by the housemaid, Kittyboy scampered out, it was to find refuge -in the dining-room, just as the doctor opened the door to go to his -breakfast. This time Kittyboy was not driven out, for the cheery -waitress said, "It brings good luck, doctor, sorr, to have a cat come -to the house, especially a black cat." And by the time the doctor had -finished, indulgently feeding Kittyboy with bits from his own plate, -and Kittyboy had responded by such antics as kept the doctor laughing, -it was an understood thing that the little cat was fairly adopted into -the family. - -The invasion of a common little street cat into the bachelor's -household quite scandalized the good housekeeper, who could not get it -out of her head that Kittyboy had in some way purloined the cream, but, -said the cheerful Maggie, "It's far too quiet here to suit me, and the -doctor actually ate his breakfast this morning without the paper at his -elbow. I certainly am glad to see some sort of a young creature about -the house." The housekeeper gave a sniff, but even she smiled furtively -a moment later at sight of Kittyboy wildly chasing his tail. - -Buttoning himself up well in his overcoat, the doctor, after breakfast, -took his way down town, and went straight to the city Post Office. He -did not stop as he passed through the long corridor till he reached the -private office of the Postmaster himself. - -"Hello, Brewster, what brings you here so early?" questioned that -worthy, looking up from his desk. "Haven't any complaints to make -about Uncle Sam's mail, have you? Don't be too hard on us if things -aren't just on time. There is a great rush from now till after the -holidays, and you old bachelors are so methodical that, if a letter is -a minute and a quarter late, you think the entire Post Office system -is tottering. Sit down." - -"No," replied the doctor. "I didn't come to complain, Hardy, I came to -see if I could collect the mail for Santa Claus." - -Mr. Hardy put down his pen, and stared at his visitor. "What are you -driving at, anyhow?" he asked. "Oh, I see; some charity Christmas tree, -or something. How much will let me off, doc?" - -The doctor smiled. "I'm not on that errand at all. I simply want to -know if it is possible to have any letters, now lying in this office, -addressed to Santa Claus, delivered to me?" - -Mr. Hardy looked thoughtful for a moment. "Are there any such letters?" -he then asked. - -The doctor felt in his pocket for the last evening's paper, which he -had taken the precaution to carry with him, and silently pointed out -the paragraph he had read the night before. - -Mr. Hardy nodded understandingly. "I don't see why you shouldn't -have them," he replied finally; "I'll get them for you, doc, if it's -possible," and, leaving the office, he presently returned with about -half a dozen letters, which he handed to his friend. "There you are," -he said. "No need to ask what you're going to do with them. It's just -like the things you used to do when we were lads. It takes me back to -the old days when Christmas comes around. Come up and see us, doc; the -latch string is always out," and he turned to his desk, as the doctor -with his budget left the room. - -The latter went directly to his club, and opened the funny, smudgy -little notes. Some of them printed; some sprawled across a wide page, -some very zig-zag and uncertain. - - "_Don't, good Santa Claus, forget our corner_," read one, "_20uth - and Purl street, if you can't git down the chimney cause they are - reggyters come in the window, we'll leave it a little bit open so you - can hist it easy_. - - "BOB." - -"That youngster's all right," nodded the doctor. "I know the locality, -and there's not a doubt but that his stocking will be well-filled." - -The next was printed. - - "_I am a good girl bring me the doll. Fill wants a bow narrow_," - ---but there was no address, and this, too, was laid aside. - -Then came a queer little, half-printed, half-written epistle: - - "DEAR SANTA: _I want a new papa and a new kitten. Conny says kittens - are easy enuff to get, but papas are much harder and very spensive. - but I dont want just any kitten please, cause my dear Jollity was - black and all the kittens this year are grey. if you have any black - ones to spare please bring me one and a papa with a red ribbon around - its neck. dont go to grandpas at Fort wurth where we were last year - cause we aint there now we are at 610 west 12 street._ - - "ELINOR TEMPLE." - -As the doctor read the signature a red flush mounted to his forehead, -and he cast a confused look around him; then he slipped the letter into -his pocket, took two or three turns up and down the room, and returned -to his examination of the rest of the mail. - -The last two letters were pitiful appeals from homes of want and -misery; timid little requests, full of childish faith, which made the -doctor shake his head and blink his eyes, frowning the while. These -letters he also put aside, and then paced the floor in deep thought. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -It was high noon when he turned toward home. He had forgotten all -about Kittyboy, but when the confident little beastie came rubbing up -against him, purring softly, the doctor smiled, as if a sudden thought -had struck him, and stooping down, he rubbed Kittyboy's head; after -which performance the artful little creature rolled over on his back, -and turned his gold-colored eyes upon the doctor, inviting a frolic; -then up and away he scudded, with arched back and curved tail, the very -embodiment of a witch's familiar. - -"You little imp of darkness!" cried the doctor. "Such capers in the -house of a sober bachelor! You'll be occupying my bedroom next and -calling it your own." A prediction which speedily came true, for that -very night Kittyboy slyly crept up behind the doctor, and, hiding -himself, craftily bided his time, and in the dead of night stole forth -and curled himself up on the foot of the bed, waking the doctor in -the morning by licking his hand with a red, rough, little tongue. -And then followed wild, frantic gambols, dancing and prancing over -everything; coquettings with the tassels of a dressing gown; tussles -with a slipper; mock fears of a very innocent reflection in the glass; -delicate tip-toeings about the dressing table, with attempts to pry -into every box and drawer; then one leap into the air and a waltzing -after a little black tail whose existence Kittyboy seemed only that -moment to have discovered. All this so entertained the doctor, that he -lay in bed shaking with laughter at the absurd antics, and went down to -breakfast with Kittyboy on his shoulder. - -After this it was evident that Kittyboy considered the second-story -front bedroom as his own. To be sure he generously allowed Dr. Brewster -to share it, to occupy the bed, if he were not in the middle of it; -or the doctor might sit in any comfortable chair for which Kittyboy -had no immediate use; but the lordly little creature took possession -so absolutely that the doctor's sense of humor was greatly tickled by -this overweening complacency and confidence, and he meekly took another -chair when Kittyboy occupied the better one, or, indeed, moved over to -the right side of the bed if Kittyboy preferred the left. - -It was the evening of the day which had seen the doctor at the Post -Office. It seemed to him that it had been many more than twenty-four -hours since the sly little cat had followed him indoors, and had -ingratiated himself into the good man's favor. Already the doctor was -making a confidant of this same little waif. - -"What would you do about it, you little limb of Satan?" he asked, as he -opened the letter he had so carefully put aside that morning. "Come, -you shall decide. Let us see what sort of oracle you can make. You -started this, anyhow, as I remember. Now get me out of it, if you can." - -Kittyboy winked soberly, as the doctor thus addressed him, but looked -very wise, as if he knew much more than he proposed to tell. - -The doctor softly stroked the black fur, which was less rough than -it had been the day before. "Shall I go or not?" he asked. "You can -advise, and then, like others in the same position, I'll do as I -choose. Here is the letter." He shook it at the little creature, who -grabbed it in both paws, rolled over with it once or twice, then taking -it in his mouth he jumped down from the table and walked off with his -prize to the chair where a soft felt hat of the doctor's was lying. -Into this jumped Kittyboy, letter and all, and, curling himself up, -looked with a knowing wink at the man who was watching him. - -"Nothing could be plainer," laughed the doctor. "Go is the word. Pick -up your hat and its contents, you say. Here we are, take us and go. -Such wisdom! For real out and out witchcraft, commend me to a black -cat. Ah, Kittyboy, it is well you did not live in the time of those -old fellows, my ancestors, Wrastling Brewster and Preserved Fish, and -the rest, or we'd both be strung up for practicing the black arts, -although such names as they had were enough to choke them without -hanging. - -"Well, my small wizard, go it is, since your suggestion suits my -inclination; who knows? who knows?" He sat absently stroking the little -cat, who had returned to the table, and it was evident that something -had given him food for deep, and not altogether unpleasant, reflection, -for the evening paper lay untouched, and the open fire seemed to hold -the man's fixed attention. Was it Kittyboy's sorceries that caused -past events to rise as flames from ashes, to add a new warmth to a -half-chilled memory? - -[Illustration: "_Into this jumped Kittyboy_"--Page 26] - -The next morning it was that Dr. Brewster turned his steps toward a -quiet street in a modest quarter of the city. An open square gave a -pleasant, airy appearance to the neighborhood. The sun was shining -brightly, but the air was frosty, and the doctor stepped along briskly. -His footsteps did not falter until he reached the house, 610 West -Twelfth Street, and then for a moment he paused, taking off his hat and -wiping his brow as if it were a warm day. Immediately after, however, -he mounted the steps with a firm step and gave the bell a vigorous -pull. It was answered by a neat maid, who paused expectantly for the -card, which the doctor did not produce. "Tell Mrs. Temple a friend -wishes to see her," was his message. - -He was ushered into a small room, which was warm and cosy. A fire -glowed in a Baltimore heater. There were pretty, tasteful articles -scattered about, which gave the room a cheerful, homelike look. The -doctor picked up a book from the table, put it down again, nervously -took two or three turns up and down the floor, and finally stationed -himself, with his hands behind him, at one of the windows, fixing his -eyes upon the street. - -Presently some one entered, and a soft voice said, "You wished to see -me?" - -The doctor turned abruptly, and held out his hand to the tall, fair -woman who stood before him. "Elinor," he said,--the color mounted to -the lady's cheek,--"Dr. Brewster," she faltered. "How--where did you -learn of me?" - -"At the club," replied the doctor, gravely and truthfully. - -"It is truly good to see an old friend," continued Mrs. Temple. "You -know--you have heard." - -"I know nothing but that you are here," answered the doctor. - -"My husband died two years ago," went on Mrs. Temple. "He was very good -to me, and he idolized our little daughter." Her eyes dropped before -the doctor's earnest gaze, but they had already told that which the -doctor had for so many years longed to know, whether in marrying big, -wealthy, dissipated Captain Temple, Elinor Arsquith had pleased merely -herself, or whether to spare her father's good name she had sacrificed -her girlhood. - -He drew in his breath quickly, and for a moment no word was spoken -between them. - -"And your little girl?" asked the doctor, breaking the silence. - -"She is with me here. I lost two little ones in Texas, and Elinor is -all I have left. I felt that for her sake I must seek a different -climate, and that is why I am here." - -At that moment the curtains before the door parted, and a small figure -appeared. A solemn-faced little midget, about six years old, clasping -to her breast a battered doll, stood before them. - -"Come in, dear, and speak to the doctor," Mrs. Temple said, glad of an -interruption to a conversation which was becoming embarrassing. - -The little one advanced slowly, till she stood by the doctor's side. -"Must I put out my tongue?" she asked. - -The doctor smiled. "No, I think I wouldn't. It's pretty cold for even a -tongue to be out to-day." - -The child laughed merrily. "I wanted to go and buy mamma a little bunch -of vi'lets, but she said I would freeze my nose off, and I wouldn't -be pretty without any nose, would I?" Then, glancing down at her -dilapidated, noseless doll, she looked a little abashed. "Excuse me, -Lily," she said gravely; "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I love -you just as much as if you had as big a nose as the doctor's. I didn't -have any money in my bank, anyhow," she continued, "and mamma could not -spare any five centses. You know we aren't rich any more. I 'spect the -flowers are frozen up, anyway." - -"I'll get the violets for you," said the doctor, without looking at -Mrs. Temple. "I know a nice, warm place where they live, and if you'll -trust me I think I can find some fresh, sweet ones." - -Elinor clasped her hands. "You're very nice," she assured him. "And if -you won't give me any nasty medicine, I'll love you very much." - -"I promise no nasty medicine," agreed the doctor, and their friendship -was sealed. So well did it proceed that when the doctor took his leave, -an hour later, Elinor hugged him frantically, saying, "Doctor, come -to-morrow. I get so lonely, and so does mamma. I wish you'd come every -day," and the doctor's smile answered the suggestion. - -"Mamma," said the child, after the doctor had left them, "is that a -very nice man?" - -"Why, darling; yes--of course--yes--he is very nice." - -"I fought so," she returned confidently. "Is he very 'spensive?" - -"Oh, you mean--wealthy. I think so, enough so, at all events. What -funny questions. Why do you want to know?" - -"Just 'cause I like to ask funny questions. Mamma, do you like bread?" - -"Why, you midget, you are just asking questions to tease your mudder. -You know I like bread." - -Elinor laughed gleefully, and looked down at her doll. "Lily told me a -secret to-day," she said, "and she won't let me tell till Christmas. -It's a very nice one, but I can't tell you, mamma." - -"Very well. I will wait till Christmas." - -"Don't you want to know it?" the child asked, anxiously. - -"Not if you don't want to tell it." - -"But I do, only Lily won't let me. Mamma, this morning I was a kitten." - -"You were? I didn't discover it." - -"I was. I had a red ribbon round my neck, and I was black, and Lily was -Elinor Temple, and she played with me. See where I scratched her. Do -you want me to be a kitten for you, mamma?" - -"Not if you scratch, nor if you have to turn black." - -That amused Elinor greatly. - -"I doesn't have to. I've just make-believe claws. Mamma, are you going -to take me to church on Christmas?" - -"Why, of course. Don't you want to go?" - -"I didn't last Sunday; it was so long. The man in the white gown said -so much. I fink he was a chatterbox." - -"Why, Elinor! what a thing to say about the good rector." - -"Well, mamma, it is what you say about me when I talk a long time, and -you love me." - -Mrs. Temple smiled. "Then you don't want to go to church on Christmas?" - -"Oh, but I do; I like to hear the little boys sing, and I like to see -the green things, but----" - -"You get tired sitting so long?" - -"Oh, no, mamma; I couldn't get tired; I get too much rested." - -"I see. Well, dearie, we will go to the early service, which is not so -long." - -"And then come home and have the Santa Claus part of it for dessert; -that will be nice. I wish the doctor would come soon; I want to ask him -somefing." - -The doctor did come soon. Indeed, there was scarcely a day after this -which did not see his stalwart form turning into the quiet street, and -the affection between the grave man and the pretty child grew apace, so -that many confidences passed between them. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -One afternoon the two were cosily occupying one big chair, in the -absence of Mrs. Temple, who was glad to leave her treasure so well -satisfied to stay at home, while she attended to some Christmas -shopping. - -"Let's talk about Christmas," said Elinor, cuddling down by the side of -the doctor, after watching her mother out of sight. - -"Isn't there a Santa Claus?" she asked. - -"So I have always been told." - -"There, I said so; Bill says there isn't." - -"And who is Bill?" - -"Oh, a friend of mine," returned Elinor, jauntily. - -"I should like to know something about him." - -"Oh, he's just a boy with----" she clapped her hands over her mouth, -and looked, with eyes full of laughter, at the doctor. - -"What?" - -"Oh, doctor, it isn't nice to make remarks about the dress of your -friends," returned the little monkey, drawing down her mouth demurely, -and looking up mischievously from under her long lashes. - -"Then suppose we don't mention his dress. Tell me something else about -him." - -"He has a very dirty face," said Elinor, with a little chuckle. - -"He has? That is unfortunate. Why doesn't he wash it?" - -"I reckon 'cause he hasn't any soap or towels." - -"But he can get water easily." - -"Yes; but, doctor, don't you know how horrid it is to have your face -washed, and to stand with it all dripping, 'specially in cold weather? -and if you had no towel, you know, you wouldn't want to wash your face, -either." - -"Perhaps not. Well, Bill is a boy with a dirty face. Is that all? Has -he nothing else to boast of?" - -"Yes; he has a sister named Gerty. I s'pose she has a dirty face, too. -I never saw her, 'cause she's got the rickets, and her grandfather has -had yaller janders; but they is about gone. I think they must be rather -pretty, don't you?" - -"What?" - -"Why, the yaller janders. It sounds like some sort of a flower, I -always fink of--what are the yellow fings that come in the spring--the -early ones?" - -"Daffodils?" - -Elinor shook her head. "Not zactly; mamma said they were about the -same." - -"Oh, jonquils." - -"Yes, that's it; are they anything alike?" - -"Like what? Daffodils?" - -"No; like yaller janders. Are yaller jonquils anything like them?" - -"No. I can't say that they are." - -"Have you any at your house?" - -The doctor laughed--"Fortunately, no, I know of none nearer than a -hospital." - -"Oh, do they grow in hospitals?" - -"Sometimes." - -"Will you take me there and show them to me?" - -"I don't believe you would be particularly pleased to see anyone with -what Bill calls 'yaller janders.'" - -"Why not?" - -"Because it is not a very pleasant disease to gaze upon." - -"Is it a sickness? Oh, I'm so disypointed. I fought they were flowers, -and I was so glad the old grandfather had them. That's a dreffel -disypointment," she added, after a moment's silence. - -"But you have not told me about Bill," the doctor reminded her. "Where -did you meet him--at a party?" - -"No-o," contemptuously. "I met him in the square. He sells vi'lets. I -reckon that's why I fought his grandfather had flowers--yaller jander -flowers.--Is bronicles flowers?" - -"I never heard of them." - -"Oh, dear, I s'pect that's another disease. You see it fooled me to -see Bill selling vi'lets. I kind of fought he had a big garden full, -or his grandfather had. He said his grandfather used to go out selling -flowers till sumfing got the matter with his bronicles, and they -couldn't stand the east wind." - -The doctor laughed so heartily that Elinor looked quite aggrieved. - -"I'll not tell you any more," she said, "if you make fun of me, and I -was going to tell you lots." - -"Oh, please pardon my laughter. I'll try not to be so silly again. You -see, I sometimes laugh at nothing at all. It is a habit I have formed -from living alone." - -Elinor looked at him very soberly. She wasn't quite sure whether this -was earnest or not, but his being alone seemed a sufficient excuse, -and, moreover, appealed to her sympathies, so she took hold of one of -her friend's big fingers, and held it confidingly. - -"Tell me truly," she said, "do you believe in Santa Claus?" - -"Most certainly. I think he is the greatest invention of any age." - -"Oh, good! That sounds so certain sure. That's what Connie says. I -didn't make it up. I did make up sumfing once." - -"You did? What was it?" - -"A----I don't know what to call it. I'll tell you, and then you'll -know." She nestled her golden head against the doctor's shoulder, and -looked up in his face. "I was jumping in the cellar one day with Ida -Miller, and I made a tree-men-jus jump, and I said, 'Oh, Ida, I made a -jump right smite the javelin.' Don't you fink that's fine? I have said -it over lots of times, 'cause I like the way it sounds, somefing like -the Bible, you know." - -"I think it is one of the most grandiloquent phrases I ever heard. You -do not know how I admire it." - -"Do you, really?" - -"Yes, really." - -"Then, I'm glad I told you. Now, I'll tell you somefing else. It's a -secret, but Lily said I might tell you. She won't let me tell mamma. -It's about Bill. Do you want to hear it?" - -"Very much." - -"And you won't tell?" - -"No." - -"Cross your heart?" - -"Yes; cross my heart." - -"Then, it is this: Bill said he didn't believe there wa'n't no Santa -Claus. He said it just that way." She stopped and looked searchingly at -the doctor, but he was listening attentively. - -She gave her little mirthful chuckle and went on. "Then I said, 'if -you write to him, and he brings you what you ask, I reckon you'll -believe in him,' and he said he'd be a blamed fool to do such a fing. -He said blamed fool----" - -"All right, he said blamed fool." - -Elinor buried her head in the doctor's sleeve and laughed silently. -Then she looked up with eyes still full of mirth. "That was so funny," -she said. - -"What was?" - -"To hear you say blamed fool. Did you ever say it before?" - -"Perhaps." - -"Don't you like to say it? I do. I go off in the corner and say it to -Lily sometimes, just 'cause I like to hear myself. Do you do that?" - -"Go off by myself and say it to Lily? I haven't any Lily." - -"No, of course, but you might say it just the same to a chair--or--or -anyfing. Mamma says it's not nice for a lady to say it, and that's why -I'm doing it all I can now, 'cause I'll be a lady some day, and then I -can't. There are lots of fings that way. Anyhow, Bill said it, and I -told him he was an aggynorstic. That sounds like a dreadful word, but -it isn't, for I heard mamma call somebody that, and I asked her what it -meant, and she said it meant a person that doesn't believe. I fought -it would scare Bill, for I fink it has a scary sound, like the day of -wrath." - -The doctor turned away his head, and, taking out his handkerchief, -buried his face in it, a violent fit of coughing seeming to overtake -him. - -Elinor looked quite alarmed, but the doctor assured her it was only -a small matter, and though very red in the face, he resumed a grave -demeanor and asked Elinor to continue her tale. - -[Illustration: "'_The Doctor turned away his head, and taking out his -handkerchief, buried his face in it_"--Page 46] - -"Well," she went on, "'then Bill,' I said, 'you're an aggynorstic,' -and he stared at me so hard. 'I don't like aggynorstics,' I said, and -he said 'what'll I do about it?' And I said, 'you write to Santa Claus -just like'----Oh, my! I was just going to tell such a precious secret. -I won't, though----Anyhow, I made him promise he'd write to Santa Claus -if I'd buy vi'lets whenever I had any money in my bank. And he did -write, and now I reckon he'll find out. He's real e'cited over it." - -"And where does he live?" - -"Oh, back in a little street that runs skwy-eyed, Connie says, across -this. It's a horrid little street, and mamma won't let me go there, but -I know where it is." - -"And where does Bill sell his violets?" - -"In the square, by the fountain. He has beautiful red hair and the -loveliest freckles you ever saw. I wish I had freckles and red hair; -don't you?" - -"I can't say that I do desire them greatly, and I'm sure I like you -much better as you are." - -"Do you? Well, maybe you do, but I don't. Do you fink Santa Claus got -Bill's letter? I hope he did, for it seems dreadful for anyone to have -no Santa Claus and no Christmas; it makes me feel sorry inside, as if I -had eaten too many cakes. Do you fink he got it?" - -"That depends upon where he mailed it." - -"Why, in the post-office box, of course. The one on the corner, by the -square, that says U. S. mail on it. What makes them turn it hind part -before? Why don't they say mail us? It means the letters you put in, -of course. It's so the man with the funny little wagon will know." - -The doctor frowned; then he laughed. It was such a funny translation of -the U. S. mail. But just such fantastic ideas he knew took possession -of the child. "That's all right," he said. "Uncle Sam does put things -wrong-end-foremost sometimes. You tell Bill that if he put his letter -in the box there's not the slightest doubt but that it will be -answered." - -"I saw him put it in. He showed it to me, and I went with him to mail -it. He can write pretty well, for he went to school before that time; -about--about the bronicles, you know." - -The doctor nodded understandingly. - -"Do you believe Santa Claus will have enough turkeys to go around? -Mamma says, if he hasn't, I may send Bill and Gerty some of mine. I'm -going to try to eat a very little piece, but I like turkey, and I hope -Bill and Gerty will have a whole one to themselves, and I hope Gerty -will get a doll, and if she doesn't, I'll have to send her the one -Santa Claus brings me." - -"Why would you have to?" - -"Why, 'cause I wouldn't be such a piggy-wiggy as to keep two, and she -not have any. It wouldn't be nice of me, when I have Lily. Could you -have lots of fings when you knew somebody else didn't have any?" - -This was a home thrust, made so truthfully and innocently that the -doctor wondered why all these years' Christmastide had not brought home -to him such a reproach. He had eaten, drunken, been comfortable and -care free, while just such opportunities had been waiting for him as -this year offered. - -"Well," he said, as he took his departure, "it's all right about Santa -Claus, you tell Bill." - -"And you won't tell anyone," whispered Elinor. - -He assured her that the secret was safe, and went off with a very warm -feeling inside. There seemed to be an expansiveness of light in the -setting sun; a brightness about existence in general, which even cases -of "yaller janders" and weak "bronicles" could not overshadow. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -"I must look after that family," mused the doctor. "Bless the young -things! a frolicsome kitten and a little earnest child, full of faith -and love of human kind, can be wonderful factors in the matter of -happiness. Strange how I have gone along missing both and not knowing -what I missed. Let me see. I'll send Hooper to look after grandfather's -'bronicles;' he smiled broadly at the remembrance of the garbled word. -I'd rather not have the little one know that I've a hand in it, and -'twill be good for Hooper to try his hand at that sort of thing. Let -me see if that youngster's letter reached its proper destination." He -stopped and pulled out the packet he carried. - -Yes, there it was, signed "Bill." The doctor stood and read the poor -smudgy, mis-spelled little missive over, put it back in his pocket, and -walked thoughtfully on, not knowing that at that very moment he was -passing the writer, who, with his meagre supply of wan-looking violets, -was offering them for sale. - -Bill as little knew that the letter over which he had spent much -thought and hard labor was resting in the doctor's pocket, for -he imagined it to be in the hands of a red-nosed, white-haired -individual, with a jolly countenance and a twinkling eye--such a one -as could be seen, more or less realistically represented in shop -windows. A very different looking person, indeed, from this portly, -prosperous-appearing man with the keen eyes, who wore "swagger -clothes, and didn't care nothin' fer poor cusses, or he'd 'a bought -somethin' from a feller." Bill's ire was roused by this kind of person, -so indifferent and absent-minded, as never even to glance at the -violets, nor give a regretful negative, as some nice ladies did. - -"Talk about old Santa Claus," muttered Bill, "if he is anybody at all, -he ain't friends to nobody but rich folks; that's what I say. I ain't -never heard from him, an' I guess I ain't never goin' to, what's more." - -But, as if to chide his lack of faith, Elinor herself appeared like a -reproving angel at his side. "Bill," she said, standing on tip-toe that -she might see the box-cover in which the violets lay, "Bill, have you -sold lots to-day?" - -"No, I ain't," he answered, rather crossly. - -"Oh, then, I can spend all these five centses. The doctor picked them -all out of his pocket for me, and told me to buy vi'lets for mamma. So, -I have to. Ten five centses, see. I told mamma I would come right back. -She is watching out of the window for me." - -Bill's face took on a little sunshine. Ten bunches! Why, it would -nearly clean out his stock. What luck! - -"Say," he said, in a low voice, "'bout that Santa Claus, you know. -Time's gittin' clost." - -"Yes," said Elinor, eagerly holding out her hands to receive the -violets. - -"I don't believe he comes to poor folks," continued Bill; "mind, I -don't say there ain't no Santa Claus; but I say he ain't no friend o' -folks what lives in Hitchen's court." - -"Oh, but he is. Dr. Brewster says so, and he knows everyfing--he -does truly--and he told me to tell you that there was a Santa Claus, -really, really." Bill stared at the ground. "And he said if you put -your letter in the box, Santa Claus will surely get it there, and you -will get an answer. So, now," and she walked off with a little switch -of her skirts, and a decided sort of air, as she would say there was no -further doubt possible. - -Bill looked after her. Ten bunches of violets meant a corresponding -amount of faith, and an hour later an empty box lid went home with him. -But the very fact of the emptiness of the box cover meant a fullness -of belief. And Gerty; poor little, rickety Gerty, also received a prop -to her faltering hopes in Bill's words. "They are a Sandy Claus, Gert, -sure as shootin'! A big bug what I knows about says so. Ain't you -glad?" - -"Are you goin' to believe in him?" asked Gerty, in an excited whisper. - -"Yes, I am," sturdily returned Bill. - -"So'm I, then," answered Gerty. "I'm goin' to believe he'll bring me a -doll, and a--a orange, and a--a new frock, and a--a picture book and -candy, and--" her whisper rose shrilly as she became more ambitious, -"and a--a turkey!" The climax was reached. - -"Sho!" said Bill, doubtfully, "I don't believe he'll do all that." - -"What's the use of believing at all if you don't believe he can do -every bit?" returned Gerty, who did not regard half measures with -favor. "I'm goin' to believe I'll git it all--and more," she added, -with an extra touch of defiance of fate. - -Bill looked at her half-admiringly. Such temerity was beyond his mental -stature, although, given a proper field for physical valor, and he'd -show no white feather, as various urchins in the neighborhood could -testify. - -"How long is it before Christmas?" asked Gerty. "Three days, ain't it?" - -"'Bout that. Say, Gert, we ain't ast fur nothin' fur grandpop in that -letter." - -"Why, yes, we did. We ast fur a doctor to cure his bronicles. Don't you -know?" - -"So we did. How is he?" - -"I don't know, he's kinder yaller yit, an' he can't eat much." - -A sharp rap at the door interrupted them, and a smiling young man -entered to to their "Come in." - -"Is this--Bill?" he asked. - -The boy nodded. - -"Your grandfather, he's ill?" - -"Hm-hm," returned Bill, looking suspiciously at the visitor's careful -attire. - -"Ah, yes." The young man put up an eye-glass and peered around the -dingy rooms, Bill meantime eying him, as much as to say, what business -is it of yours how we look? - -"Could I see him?" queried the young man. - -"I dunno. See here. What d'yer want? I'll pay yer rent. Yer needn't go -badgerin' gran'pop about it." - -The young man stared. "Bless me, my son. I don't want any rent. I'm," -he smiled, and whimsically took out his card case. "Pardon me for not -properly introducing myself. I am Dr. Hooper, and I have been asked to -call professionally on your grandfather by a friend of his." - -"Whew!" Bill gave voice to a low whistle, and glanced at Gerty, who had -taken the card with a funny little air of polite acceptance, and, at a -word from her brother, led the way into a hole of a room, hardly more -than a closet, where an old man lay. - -The doctor remained about fifteen or twenty minutes, and when he again -came into the presence of the boy and his sister, he said: - -"I think your grandfather will be better under my immediate care, and -I will see that he is removed--if--if you don't object--to a pleasant -room in a pleasant place." - -"An 'orspital?" queried Gerty. - -The young man nodded. - -"Say, look here, he ain't goin' to no 'orspital," objected Bill. - -"He is, too," retorted Gerty; then turning to the doctor, "You can take -him." She gave the permission grandly. "I know all about it and Bill -don't. I've seen one." - -"My son," said the doctor, addressing Bill, "your sister is a person of -unusual acumen. She--she knows a good thing when she sees it. I give -you my word that the friend of whom I spoke thoroughly approves of your -grandfather's removal." - -"And can't we see him?" asked Bill, looking very dubious. - -"Bless you, yes, every day, if you want to." - -"And will you bring him back for Christmas?" asked Bill again. - -The doctor considered. "If it is possible. At least, I can promise you -shall eat your Christmas dinner together." - -The two children exchanged glances. The answer implied that there was -to be a Christmas dinner. - -"I will come to-morrow morning in my carriage for him," added the -doctor. "That is, if I may." - -"Yer hear that, Gert? A kerridge. Ain't we swagger?" and Bill laughed. - -He followed the young doctor to the door, and shut it after him as -he went outside. Plucking him by the sleeve, he asked in a low tone, -"Mister doctor, that there friend what sent you. Say, honest now, tell -a fellow square. Was it old Sandy Claus?" - -The doctor hesitated, looked down at the earnest, ugly little face, -lighted up by a strong hope, its dirt and unhealthy color but dimly -descried in the flaring light of the dingy court, and he felt a new -concern for this "gutter-snipe" with whom he had suddenly come in -contact. He laughed softly and said, "Yes; you're about right. Call him -Santa Claus." - -Bill went in and shut the door very solemnly. Things were happening -mysteriously, and he felt somewhat awed at what his experiences -implied. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -Dr. Brewster received a call from his young assistant that same -evening. He entered with a bored, blase air into the doctor's study, -and stood staring, and, slapping his gloves together as if he had not -one single idea in his noddle. Then he spoke. - -"The old fellow--in Hitchen's Court, you know--beastly dirty hole, -by the way--he needs looking after, wants a sunny room and good -nourishment, and all that sort of thing. He'll get worse if he stays -there. I'm going to take him to our hospital, if you don't mind." - -"Take him?" the doctor chuckled. - -The young man flushed, "Yes. Bah Jove! I can't see an old fellow like -that, don't you know, dying for want of a little attention. Now, -doctor, I'm no charity fiend, but--I say, what are you chuckling about?" - -"At your past record in the matter of pet charities, and your open -expressions regarding those who have them. Go on, Sig, my dear fellow. -You said you'd take him." - -The young man flung off his overcoat, displaying his evening dress and -the flower in his button-hole. "Yes, I said _take_ him--in my carriage -to-morrow morning." He looked up, as if expecting protest. - -"Bless you, man, I don't object if you don't," returned the older -man. "He's an old fraud, doubtless, has no 'bronicles' to speak of, -and wouldn't know 'yaller janders' from scarlet fever. Where do you -purpose placing him?" - -"In the pay ward," said the young doctor, defiantly. - -Dr. Brewster threw back his head and laughed. - -"But, I say, doctor," continued the other, "you ought to see him, such -a pitiful-looking, white-haired, old chap, with those kids on his hands -for years. I say, he's been handicapped, you know. And--Bah Jove! -doctor, what did you send me there for?" - -"To see how you liked Hitchen's Court." - -The young man passed over the reply. "I say it's a beastly shame," he -went on. "That old chap is a better fellow than I am any day, I say, -there's something wrong." - -"Desperately so, I grant you--with us." - -The young man looked up quickly. "It's beastly," he repeated. - -"Sig, you're a huge joke," laughed the doctor. "Go 'long with you and -your paupers. By the way, what about the children?" - -The young man smiled broadly. "They are a pair. I believe that poor -little wretch of a red-headed snipe supports the family. Ah, doctor, I -say we're nowhere with my Lord William. Such airs; bluffed me off at -first." - -He sat on the arm of the chair, swinging one foot thoughtfully. -Dr. Brewster looked at him. Young, good-looking, rich; what the -public called "a howling swell;" a dilettante in his profession, yet -possessing ability, if but the proper motive stirred his impulses. -He had been wont to maintain that half the world's poor were whining -impostors, and the other half incorrigible reprobates. - -The elder man watched him with a half smile. "You'll take the old man, -then, and I'll see to the young ones," he remarked after a time. - -Sigourney Hooper slipped on his overcoat again. "By the way," he said, -"they think Santa Claus sent me," and he gave a grin of amusement. - -Dr. Brewster looked grave. "Who is Santa Claus, anyhow?" he returned. -"The embodiment of goodness, charity and kindly feeling." - -"They were right, then," replied Sigourney, holding out his hand. -"We'll have to give them a Christmas, doctor, for I promised not to -keep grandfather from the bosom of his family on that festal day. Holy -Moses! Festivities in that hole! Ugh!" - -Dr. Brewster sat smiling to himself long after his visitor had -departed. A wheel within a wheel, the ripples caused by the dropping -of the smallest of pebbles; the movings toward a broad humanity set -astir by the prattle of a child; by the instinctive appeal for warmth -and protection made by a little hunted animal; the breath of the spirit -on the face of the waters! He pondered over these mysterious forces, -while Kittyboy purred contentedly at his elbow. - -Kittyboy fared well these days. He never failed to station himself by -the doctor's chair at meal time, and was so indulged in the matter of -tid-bits that his coat grew as sleek as satin; and if he had not been -of such a very volatile temperament, it is quite likely that he would -have become fat and lazy. - -The housekeeper confided to Maggie that something had made the doctor -grow ten years younger, and the housemaid immediately attributed the -fact to the presence of Kittyboy. Certain it is that the doctor busied -himself with many things to which he had heretofore seemed indifferent, -and his sober establishment underwent all sorts of changes. "All on -account of the cat," said Maggie. - -A well-to-do physician who has retained just enough practice to keep -him contented is rather an enviable individual, and Dr. Brewster -looked the picture of genial content as he stepped into his carriage -on Christmas Eve. Just where he went was best known to his coachman, -who had long ago learned the value of keeping his own counsel. But the -faith in Santa Claus which that evening justified was felt in more -than one wretched dwelling. Especially did two anxious little souls, -who had staked their last hope on the letter they had sent, feel that -their mustard seed of belief had indeed grown to gigantic size when -hampers and bundles from Santa Claus were displayed to their glad and -astonished eyes. - -"Oh, Bill, I said I believed he'd bring all I wanted, and more," cried -Gerty, laughing and crying at the same time. "And he did, he did. And -grandpop's gone to stay in that grand room and get well, and I'm goin' -to get well, and we've a whole turkey and fixins, Bill, fixins. I never -said nothin' about them. And gran'pop 'll be here an' help us eat it. -An', oh, Bill. They are a Sandy Claus, they are, ain't they?" - -"Well, I should smile," replied Bill, surveying the bountiful supplies -before him. - -"An' you'll tell that little gal first thing, won't you?" said Gerty. - -"Won't I!" returned Bill, too happy for more speech. - -The doctor paced the floor a long time that night. He thought of many -things; of the dreary dwellings he had that day seen; of the sorrowing -poor; of the little it had taken to make a few hearts glad, and most of -all he thought of little Elinor Temple and her mother. He remembered a -Christmas Eve which had promised him a great joy, but which had brought -him a great sorrow--the sorrow which he had kept locked in his heart -for fifteen long years. Not once had he faltered in his faith in the -girl who had turned from the young physician, just starting on his -career, and had married rollicking Captain Temple. Dr. Brewster smiled -sadly as he remembered how Mrs. Temple had said but the day before: -"We sometimes make errors of judgment, but if we err from a mistaken -motive of unselfishness, we suffer just the same." And that had told -the whole story. It was the only justification she had ever attempted, -the only reference to what he knew she must have endured; but he -had inadvertently heard many things during these past weeks. He had -re-read, with fresh delight, an old chapter in his life. He had opened -his heart to the love of an innocent child, and the door being open, -what else fair and beautiful might not find admittance. - -There was a rare exultation in the doctor's smile, as the bells rang in -the midnight hour, and declared the promise of peace and good will. - -On Christmas morning around Kittyboy's neck was fastened, by the -doctor's own hand, a bright red ribbon. Then he was placed in a basket -and deposited upon the cushions of the doctor's carriage. - -With the basket in his hand, Dr. Brewster entered Mrs. Temple's cozy -sitting-room, where a hearty welcome awaited him. - -"Elinor has such a host of pretty things," said the child's mother, -"and yet she seems a little disappointed. She tells me there are two -gifts she specially wanted, which Santa Claus did not bring her, but -she will not tell me what they are." - -"I think I know," returned the doctor, smiling. "Come here, Dot, Santa -Claus asked me to bring your gifts to you, because he could not trust -any one else, and he knew I'd take better care of them than some -others." - -Elinor looked at him gravely from under her long lashes, and watched -eagerly while he uncovered the basket, from out of which jumped a sleek -black little kitten, which stretched himself comfortably, looking up -with friendly eyes at the doctor. - -"Oh, mine own Jollity!" cried Elinor. "Oh, mamma, see! Oh, isn't Santa -Claus good?" and she clasped Kittyboy rapturously in her arms. "And -the other present," she said, laughing, "you couldn't bring that in a -basket." - -"It is here, if mamma will let you keep it," and the doctor took the -child on his knee, hiding his face in her curly locks. "Tell mamma what -it is," he whispered. - -"Oh, mamma," cried the child, "I wrote to Santa Claus and asked him for -a new kitty and a new papa. That was the secret Lily and I had." For a -moment she looked puzzled, and then a light broke over her face, while -she let the kitten go, and clasped the doctor's neck closer, closer. -"And, oh mamma," she continued, "when Santa Claus has sent me such a -beautiful, 'spensive papa, you will let me keep him, won't you?" And -the mother, amid laughter and blushes, could not say her nay. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Obvious printer errors have been corrected. 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